OCEANSIDE — A new center dedicated to showcasing Oceanside’s history has opened downtown.
Located at 510 Civic Center Drive next to City Hall and the Oceanside Civic Center Library, the Robert A. and Bessie J. Weese Oceanside History Center officially opened on Aug. 29.
The 3,000-square-foot facility is the new home of the Oceanside Historical Society, which moved from its former site at 305 S. Nevada Street after nearly 30 years.
The historical society had outgrown its 700-square-foot building, a onetime police station. The nonprofit was preparing to return the property to the city, which plans to repurpose it for the Oceanside Museum of Art.
“We knew that building was temporary,” said Kristi Hawthorne, director of the Oceanside Historical Society.
Oceanside native Thomas Weese helped secure the new home by purchasing the building and funding renovations. The center was named after his parents, Robert and Bessie Weese.
Robert Weese moved to Oceanside in 1925 and began working as a water meter reader. He later became water superintendent and spent more than 40 years with the city’s water department.
Thomas Weese, born in 1928 at the old Fisher Hospital, wanted to leave his family a lasting legacy.
“He wanted his parents to be remembered, and certainly all of the contributions his father made,” Hawthorne said. “He loved his parents very much.”
The center features wall panels in chronological order, tracing Oceanside’s growth from the 1880s to the present.
The city was founded on July 3, 1888, but its history dates back centuries, with indigenous communities and the establishment of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in 1798.
A three-panel section highlights the Weese family’s legacy, including excerpts written by the late Robert Weese, known as “Mr. Water.”
Aaron Grable, a digital arts and graphic design teacher at El Camino High School, designed the panels.
Artifacts on display include plates, street signs, a cheerleading outfit and a letterman jacket. The main exhibit hall features the timeline panels, while a separate archive room contains yearbooks, Blade-Tribune negatives, documents and other historic materials.
“The archive room is probably bigger than our former space. It’s hard to believe we had this much stuff jammed in there, and it boggles my brain because it seems like we’re already running out of space,” Hawthorne said.
Hawthorne said she is excited about the expanded opportunities the new center offers.
Along with added space, the facility allows more outreach, attracting new members and donations.
“Just in the advent of people knowing we have a new building, our membership has increased and some of our donations have increased,” she said.
In the Oceanside Cultural District, the center will continue to participate in events such as First Friday art walks and collaborate with partners including the Oceanside Public Library, Oceanside Theatre Company, KOCT and Oceanside Unified School District. The society also plans to host talks, presentations and other activities at the center.
The group offers downtown history walks every second Saturday from April to September and recently launched tours in the Eastside neighborhood. The next Eastside walk is set for Sept. 20.
“We’re really excited about the possibilities, outreach and what we can share,” Hawthorne said.
The new location also comes with additional costs, including utilities that were previously covered by the city.
Hawthorne said the society is applying for grants and recruiting members to ensure sustainability.
“We’re hoping people share our vision and want to help sustain us,” she said.
Memberships start at $25 annually, with options for business sponsorships.
The Weese Oceanside History Center is free to the public and open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed on Thursdays and holidays.
